This engaging book is a fascinating and comprehensive history of the diesel engine, written by the son of Clessie Cummins, founder of Cummins Engine Co. Conceived by an author who grew up immersed in the evolution of this technology, it is not surprising that this book covers in dramatic detail the entire sweep of Rudolf Diesel's original ideas: the struggles to perfect the diesel, and the creation of an international industry that brought the world's most efficient motor to market. Illustrated with black and white photos and period line drawings, this is a must-read for any serious enthusiast for engine and transportation technology.
C. Lyle Cummins, Jr. (1930-2023) lived with engines all his life. A mechanical engineer, he spent fifteen years on engine-related projects and was granted five US patents for inventions resulting from that work. Beginning with the initial patent applications and continuing through the contractual relations with licensees, his broad experience allowed him to bring a unique perspective to bear on this subject, particularly in its relationship to engine history. Prior to his research on early engines, he taught courses in mechanical design at a university school of engineering.